Mickey Starling
reporter3@greenepublishing.com
Ronnie Scarboro has spent much of his 83 years attending Greenville Baptist Church and he got saved at the early age of 13. He is quick to point out that he didn’t really take his relationship with God very seriously at the time.
As a young adult, Scarboro remained slow in focusing on God’s will for his life. He joined the US Marine Corp and enjoyed God’s protection on several occasions.
After leaving the Marines, Scarboro returned home to Greenville, where he married the love of his life, Nancy Harper Scarboro. The couple was married for over 43 years and they were blessed with two children. Nancy died in 2007. “She was the best thing that ever happened to me,” said Scarboro. “I still miss her, but I look forward to our reunion one day.”
For several years, the family owned a grocery store, meat market and a cold storage unit in Greenville. As the businesses began to be less profitable, Scarboro closed them and was hired in 1978 by Tri-County Electric Cooperative, in Madison. “Tri-County employees quickly became family to me,” said Scarboro.
By the time Scarboro started his career with Tri-County, he was 42 years old and he began taking his spiritual life more seriously. “I came to be grateful for every day,” said Scarboro. “Yesterday is gone, today is here and tomorrow is not promised.”
As this realization set in, Scarboro saw his relationship with Jesus in a different light. “What are you gonna take with you when you die?,” said Scarboro. “You’re taking nothing, so nothing else matters, but Jesus.”
Though approaching his 84th birthday, Scarboro remains active, teaching Sunday School and, until the coronavirus struck, was ministering regularly at nursing homes. “We still pray for the residents daily,” said Scarboro.
Scarboro looks at most things through a positive light, even the current pandemic. “God is saving people through all of this,” said Scarboro. “God wants a full house and He’s gonna have it.”
Scarboro attributes his growing passion for Jesus to prayer and Bible reading. “ We need to regularly ask God to open our eyes,” said Scarboro. “Anything I’ve ever done that matters is due to the grace of God. It’s not about me.”
Scarboro begins most days praying his favorite scripture, Psalms 143:8, which says, “Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; For I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to You I lift up my soul.”
It’s obvious the daily praying of this verse has left its mark on Scarboro. “I wish that everyone would make time for the Lord each day,” said Scarboro.